THE King is dead, give us the queen!
That was the refrain yesterday from a crowd that numbered about 200 outside the Gill & Gollop Parish Centre in Gall Hill, St John, minutes after Mara Thompson received 60 of the 69 votes cast by Democratic Labour Party (DLP) constituency branch members to choose a candidate for the St John by-election on January 20.
Hours later at the party’s George Street, St Michael headquarters, the DLP’s general council unanimously ratified Thompson’s nomination to contest the St John seat, made vacant following the death of her husband, the late Prime Minister David Thompson, on October 23.
Thompson, a graduate of Howard University in Washington DC, easily defeated attorney-at-law Vere Brathwaite (one vote), Leroy McClean (five) and Anthony Walrond (three). Candidates Peter Carter and David Gittens received no votes.
Four others who had expressed an interest in the riding were no-shows: Matthew Farley, Renaldo White, Evans Maughan and Herman “Ras Bongo Spear” Lowe. Candidates Dale Lashley and DLP Senator Jepter Ince withdrew from the race and endorsed Thompson’s candidature.
During her presentation to the branch, a confident Thompson said she commiserated with all those who did not see her as a politician, adding she did not see herself as a politician either.
“I have embraced the opportunity and the invitation to serve the people of St John as their representative, not only in Parliament and in the media, but importantly, at their homes, in their communities, and always in their best interest,” she said.
Following the nomination process, Thompson visited the graveside of her husband where she laid a wreath and paused to speak to several supporters.
Full story in Monday’s DAILY NATION
